Mr. President,

1. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

2. The Group of 77 and China wishes to thank the Administrator for her presentation of the Cumulative Review and Annual report on the Strategic plan: performance and results 2008-2012, as well as the UNDP report on the recommendations of the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU). The Group also thanks the Administrator and her team for the presentation on the draft Strategic Plan 2014-2017.

3. The Group is of the view that the review of the Strategic Plan 2008-2013 and the recommendations of the JIU are crucial elements for the formulation of the Strategic Plan 2014-2017 currently under discussion, and as such provide useful inputs to be taken on board in the finalisation of the Strategic Plan. The Group has participated actively in the consultations in the preparation of the draft Strategic Plan, including through the provision of detailed comments on its concerns in the first draft circulated to Members. The Group trusts that these comments will be fully incorporated into the next draft of the Strategic Plan.

4. The Group appreciates that the concerns with the earlier formulation of the Vision for the Strategic Plan 2014-2017 has been amended to reflect the concerns of the Group. However, the Group remains concerned that although the words relating to the concept of Sustainable Human Development, that has not been agreed to by Member States have been removed from the Vision statement, the concept still seems to be the singular approach of the outcomes and areas of work that have been proposed. It is the firm belief of the Group that the Strategic Plan must have its focus squarely on the eradication of poverty, with particular focus on extreme poverty. The use of the concept of Sustainable Human Development, previously included in a Board decision 17 years ago as a broad goal, as an approach or "lens" through which to view and address poverty, is misplaced, and risks detracting from the focus on the eradication of poverty through, among others, enhancing resource endowments as part of capacity building and incorporating productive capacities to create livelihoods.

5. The Group would like to reiterate its position also made under the agenda item on evaluation, that the JIU recommendation to develop collaborative arrangements between UNDP and the Office of South-South Cooperation should be given due consideration in the Strategic Plan 2014-2017, including with a clear division of tasks and roles, as well as clear lines of reporting and accountability. Such collaborative arrangements should also be subject of a decision by the UN General Assembly's High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation given the Office of South-South cooperation's reporting lines to the HLC. The Group firmly believes that the work of UNDP in promoting South-South Cooperation, using its comparative advantage of global presence through regional and country offices, could benefit from greater coherence at leadership levels of the organisation; and that any work of the UNDP in the area of South-South cooperation should not be conducted through drawing away from the scarce resources allocated currently to the OSSC. The OSSC requires further strengthening, including through the provision of additional resources for its coordinating activities.

6. On the subject of the placement and emphasis placed on South-South and triangular cooperation in the draft Strategic Plan, the Group notes that although the draft states that UNDP proposes to make South-South and triangular cooperation core ways of working in its programmes and operations at all levels, South-South cooperation is relegated to a section on revitalising partnerships and strengthening coordination. The Group feels that this placement and emphasis should be reconsidered in a manner commensurate with the importance it deserves, and that mainstreaming South-South cooperation figures in at least one of the outcomes and areas of work.

7. The Group of 77 and China believes that UNDP's Evaluation Reports on Contribution to Poverty Reduction and South-South Co-operation (DP/2013/3 & DP/2013/31) have made some very pertinent findings, conclusions and recommendations for the next Strategic Plan. We find that these have not yet been taken onboard, and would request that these are fully taken into account in the new draft, especially in the proposed outcomes and areas of work.

Mr. President,

8. The Group also requests UNDP to fully align the Strategic Plan with the QCPR, in particular in the approach to achieving the stated vision of poverty eradication. The Group feels that the language of the QCPR provides detailed guidance to the funds and programmes on policies and programmes to eradicate poverty through a participative approach.

9. The Group of G77 and China has submitted detailed comments on specific parts of the draft Strategic Plan relating to matters including references to climate change and financing for climate change, transitions from relief to development, green economy, access to resources for sustainable development, integrated water resources management and management of ocean resources. The Group looks forward to further engagement on these matters with a view to arriving at a Strategic Plan for UNDP that will best achieve the stated Vision, and which the Board will be able to approve in its September session.

I thank you Mr. President.